Smaug :: the fabric piñata

 I'm joining Nicole today on Keep Calm, Craft On, you can visit her here.

I give you Smaug, the fabric piñata, answering to the situation of not having were to brake a piñata in my house. First I must say that here in Mexico piñatas are great tradition and we don't see it as an act of violence, it's just tradition, I understand to some of you may not feel very comfortable about beating and breaking an animal figure, maybe this option could be good for you too, even when it was not why I did it. I really didn't have were to hang it and my floor is wood so I was afraid that it could be damaged, or for an accident with the hitting pole, so I developed this.

I decided to make a dragon with a zipper, and two loops on the back, thinking that a pair of adults on a chair could hang it high, and after the kids attack it with the q-tips arrows we can roll the zipper and all the candy and toys will fall.

I have been trying to develop a nice bag for the arrows and mini bow, and this is what I came up with, all the arrows outside hold by elastic and a little elastic to attach it to the risk. I'm not all convinced with this solution but I'm running out of time, because I had to move the day a week before because if not it would be the same day than the Fifa Cup Finale, and I know kids and parents would have their minds else were, so I still have 11 pouches to go along with many other things.

Here is a short explanation of how I did the piñata. I cut many stripes to make the dragon scales and then I sew them up, I wish I had had only yellow to cover it all, but this is the fabric I have available at the time, I just wish it does not looks too Chinese. This part was longer that I expect.

Then I add the pointy thing in the back (I don't know how to call it).

Then the zipper, I'm rally bad at this but I used a lot of pins and it end up fine. I used a jacket zipper because that was what I had on hand.

I closed the tail and got to work on the head. I wanted it to be a puppet too, so kids could play with it after.

I got the idea  to make a fire that can be secured with a snap, using chiffon fabric and burning the sides.

After that I filled it with candy, I must admit I went a little crazy this year. I used to be very healthy on this mater. my son's god mother used to compliant because I would only have raising and nuts on my prior piñatas, but I have some emotional process of feeling free to do as I want that lead me to this. I have been in not so healthy relation ship that was too controlling.

I also added some nice toys, jumping ropes, loteias (bingo), pickup sticks and monkey sets, little cute erasers, wrestlers, cup and plates sets, jumping ice cones, and those number mind games at the bottom, do you know them?, my mom would always include them at my parties, kind of a educative mathematical touch, I include that in the little bags of candy I'm giving at the end so they would not have the risk of breaking that I didn't had in mind but I could not fit all in the slim Smaug.

And that"s it, what are you working on?

Hobbit Messenger Bags

Last night I stayed up late working. I had been waiting for so long to develope some of the ideas I have for the Hobbit party.

I made the the cloaks, I'll describe them in another post and also the messenger bags I want to give the kids. In Mexico people use to give plastic thematic bags with candy at the end of the party to take away, also they sometimes give plastic bags for the traditional piñata. I rather give the bags at the beggining of the party I like to give thing that encourage imaginative play and very little candy if ever. Also I think that if I give them fabric bags they will reuse them and I won't be causing more trash with the party. And since they have te bags from the beggining they cand use them for the piñata and to be part of the play adventure. I don't ususally organize many activities, or at least I don't schedule them.

I will talk abput it in another post, but for now I show you the Hobbit Messenger Bag, with plastic on the cover so they can storage the map, I think this will be a good bag to make nature walks, so you can place the observation guides on the plastic pocket.

The straps have leaves and I add a little detail with mountains and a lake at the back.

I add a spider button, I have some others with birds too, a way to personalize the bags.

I love it and my kid too, now I just need to make another 11.

Elvish Crowns, more on the Hobbit party and a pattern

I have been working on ideas for the party, it's more like my head is going super fast and I have to write all down before it fades away.

The other day we went to the art supplies store, I needed some special paper for the shadow puppets I'm working on and we run into the sparking foamy,  I'm usually totally against this material because it's plastic, but then I imagine it could work for the elvish crown and I got a few sheets.

 So last night, wile my boy was having dinner I designed the pattern and cut it.

When he went to bed I got to work on them and was able to produce seven. My goal is to make 20 so there will be enough for kids and adults, we are only having about 8 kids invited, I have found that less is more and instead of asking every kid we know I try to keep to the close friends only and that gives me the chance of going crazy with the crafts and do something special for each kid, such as cloth bags instead of paper ones for the party favors.

And I thought I would share the pattern with you, it's really easy to do as soon as you get familiar with the cutter knife. You can download it here. Or if you rather get them finished I add them to my store, click here.

I used a elastic thread that barely holds them but still keeps them in place, so the foamy would not break.

Getting ready for party number 8, a Hobbit one.

My boy is turning five this July.

 I can't believe it. Eight sound so big, like he is not a kid anymore somehow, that cuddling would be out of order, thankfully, is not the case, but still, eight, oh my.

I have never before fall into any comercialized theme for his parties. but this time I accepted, trying to go more for the book than the very violent (in my opinion) movies.

And as usual I'm going crazy with preparations, I want to make all sorts of things for the kids and a very nice meal.

So far I have made some leaf barrettes for the hair and pins for the capes of anyone that wants to be one.

I'm also making some beards.

And elf ears.

I let you know about it as it goes.

Piñatas

Here is another post birthday related, sorry, I just love his birthday.

I love to make our own piñatas every year, and how he gets more involved every time. The only I didn't made was for his 4th birthday.

First one was a Sun, so bad I don't have a picture of it finished.

 

Second one was a king, my sis help me a bit.

Tird one was a dinosaur, and he i wearing the same pajama than 2 years later, that's good clothes.

Forth one was bought but very Mexican.

 

Fifth, a purple fish.

And here is the cake singing.

Thanks for stopping by!

On gifts

I loved all the gifts.

Here they are:

This was mine:

Mi sister and her boyfriend made him the most amazing cardboard space ship, that eves has lights, all kids loved it and Itzcoatl even has an NASA Kid's Astronaut soft helmet. His outfit was also a gift.

We already played with everything, it's so funny that the rainforest puzzle is larger than him.

I din't took pictures of the pizza that day, but we had leftovers today so here is it.

Here are the shadow puppets and the play, with the artistic angle from my sister.

I hope you are not boring with the party theme.